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    RWAY
    Earnings call· Jun 2026(Q2 FY26)

    Runway Growth Finance Q2 FY26 earnings call RWAY

    Aug 7, 2026 Source

    Executive summary

    Runway Growth Finance Q2 FY26 — SWK Integration and Strategic Capital Allocation

    Runway Growth Finance reported strong Q2 FY26 results, driven by the strategic SWK acquisition which significantly diversified the portfolio and accreted to net investment income. The company is actively managing its capital structure through affiliate and company share repurchases, aiming to address the substantial discount to NAV. Despite a challenging operating environment and realized losses from two specific positions, management maintains confidence in its disciplined underwriting and credit monitoring framework, emphasizing the portfolio's underlying quality and stable dividend coverage.

    Highlights

    5
    • Total investment portfolio fair value increased 35% to $1.2 billion as of June 30, 2026, from $886.3 million in Q1 FY26.

    • The SWK acquisition contributed $0.05 accretion to net investment income and 26% growth in yielding assets.

    • Net investment income grew to $18.2 million in Q2 FY26 from $10.6 million in Q1 FY26.

    • BC Partners and affiliates committed to purchasing up to 10% of the company's outstanding common stock over the next two years.

    • 94% of the portfolio had a weighted average risk rating of 3 or better, with 76% rated in Category 1 or 2.

    Concerns

    4
    • NAV per share decreased 2% to $11.91 from $12.13 QoQ, primarily due to $8.1 million ($0.22 per share) in SWK transaction expenses.

    • The company recognized a net realized loss on investments of $45.3 million in Q2 FY26, primarily from Marley Spoon and Blueshift.

    • The leverage ratio increased to 1.36x as of June 30, 2026, compared to 0.98x in Q1 FY26, reaching the top end of the target range.

    • The share price trades at over a 49% discount to NAV as of August 4, 2026, implying a level of stress not supported by portfolio fundamentals.

    Guidance & targets

    3
    CategoryTargetConfidence
    Dividend outlook
    Stable dividend outlook for the year, anticipating greater than 100% coverage
    high materiality
    High
    BC Partners and affiliates stock purchases
    Up to 10% of the company's outstanding common stock
    high materiality
    High
    Remaining share repurchase authorization
    $11.9 million
    medium materiality
    High

    Operational metrics

    34
    Net investment income growth
    $18.2Mfrom $10.6M in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Net investment income for the quarter.

    NII accretion from SWK acquisition
    $0.05
    Q2 FY26

    Contribution of the SWK acquisition to net investment income per share.

    NII tailwind from deferred incentive fees reversal
    $0.09
    Q2 FY26

    Positive impact on net investment income from the reversal of deferred incentive fees.

    Total investment portfolio fair value
    $1.2Bup 35% from $886.3M in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Fair value of the total investment portfolio, inclusive of the SWK acquisition.

    Net assets
    $502.6Mfrom $438.2M in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Net assets at quarter end.

    NAV per share
    $11.91down 2% from $12.13 in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Net asset value per share at quarter end.

    SWK transaction expenses impact on NAV per share
    $0.22
    Q2 FY26

    Impact of transaction expenses related to the SWK acquisition on NAV per share.

    Net investment income per share
    $0.43
    Q2 FY26

    Net investment income on a per share basis.

    Base dividend per share
    $0.33
    Q3 FY26

    Regular distribution declared for the third quarter.

    Spillover income
    $0.68
    Q2 FY26

    Spillover income at quarter end.

    Debt portfolio dollar-weighted average annualized yield
    14.2%consistent with Q1 FY26, down from 15.4% in Q2 FY25
    Q2 FY26

    Average yield generated by the debt portfolio.

    Debt portfolio dollar-weighted average annualized yield (ex-non-accruals)
    15%
    Q2 FY26

    Average yield excluding the impact of non-accrual loans (Marley Spoon and Blueshift).

    Total operating expenses
    $18.8Mflat compared to Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Total operating expenses for the quarter.

    Net realized loss on investments
    $45.3Mcompared to $1.3M net realized gain in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Net realized loss on investments during the quarter.

    Total liquidity events
    $36.5M
    Q2 FY26

    Total liquidity events experienced during the second quarter.

    Leverage ratio
    1.36xfrom 0.98x in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Leverage ratio at quarter end.

    Asset coverage
    1.74xfrom 2.02x in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Asset coverage ratio at quarter end.

    Total available liquidity
    $210.8M
    Q2 FY26

    Total liquidity available to the company.

    Borrowing capacity under KeyBank credit facility
    $200M
    Q2 FY26

    Undrawn capacity under the credit facility.

    SWK contribution to yielding assets growth
    26%
    Q2 FY26

    Growth in yielding assets attributed to the SWK acquisition.

    SWK contribution to realized gain
    $3.4M
    Q2 FY26

    Realized gain contributed by the SWK acquisition.

    SWK liquidity improvement
    $16.6M
    Q2 FY26

    Liquidity improvement from the SWK portfolio.

    Shares repurchased
    3.1M
    as of Aug 3, 2026

    Number of shares repurchased by the company.

    Remaining share repurchase authorization
    $11.9M
    as of Aug 3, 2026

    Amount remaining on the existing share repurchase authorization.

    Average loan size reduction
    28%
    since Jun 30, 2025

    Reduction in average loan size as a percentage of cost.

    Fair value percentages relative to exit values
    >97.5%
    last four quarters prior to realization

    Accuracy of valuation framework through backtesting.

    Loans with Category 3 rating or higher reviewed by third party
    82%
    last two quarters

    Percentage of higher-risk loans reviewed by independent third parties.

    Loans greater than $18.5M reviewed by third party
    73%
    last two quarters

    Percentage of larger loans reviewed by independent third parties.

    Portfolio weighted average risk rating
    2.34decreased from 2.67 in Q1 FY26
    Q2 FY26

    Average risk rating across the portfolio.

    Portfolio rated Category 1 or 2
    76%
    Q2 FY26

    Percentage of the portfolio rated in the highest credit quality categories.

    Portfolio rated Category 3 or better
    94%
    Q2 FY26

    Percentage of the portfolio with a weighted average risk rating of 3 or better.

    Cash flow positive companies in portfolio
    54%
    Q2 FY26

    Percentage of portfolio companies that are cash flow positive.

    Historical recovery rate
    76%
    historical

    Company's historical recovery rate on defaulted loans.

    Implied credit losses by market valuation
    >$250M
    implied

    Level of credit losses implied by the current market valuation of the stock.

    Industry KPIs

    3
    MetricValueDetails
    Payout ratio>100%%
    Net interest income$18.2MUSD
    Deployment realizations$45.3MUSD

    Deals & partnerships

    3
    SWK HoldingsAcquisition of SWK Holdings, strengthening portfolio diversification.$239.6M

    Acquisition closed on April 6, 2026. Funded approximately $239.6 million of investments acquired through a mix of cash and equity.

    [the chronic]Sale of Blueshift to [the chronic].

    Sale of Blueshift completed in June 2026.

    Marley SpoonRestructuring of loan to Marley Spoon.

    Restructuring completed in April 2026. Management remains actively engaged with the new management team on initiatives to reduce cash burn and evaluate strategic alternatives.

    Risks & headwinds

    3
    Challenging operating environment and market undervaluationOngoing

    Share price trades at over 49% discount to NAV as of August 4, 2026, implying a level of stress not supported by portfolio fundamentals.

    Mitigation: Disciplined underwriting, active portfolio management, strategic capital allocation (affiliate/company repurchases, selective originations), portfolio diversification.

    Potential for credit losses implied by market valuationImplied by current market valuation

    Market pricing implies credit losses exceeding $250 million, assuming 0% recovery in approximately 10 investments, significantly higher than historical 76% recovery rate.

    Mitigation: Rigorous valuation process with third-party reviews, proactive credit monitoring framework (Category 3 as early warning), strong underlying portfolio fundamentals (54% cash flow positive companies).

    Increased leverage ratioQ2 FY26

    Leverage ratio increased to 1.36x as of June 30, 2026, reaching the top end of the target range.

    Mitigation: Balance debt paydown from repayments with opportunistic repurchases and new deals to manage leverage effectively.

    What to watch in Q3 FY26

    5

    BC Partners/affiliate share purchase activity

    Next quarter (ongoing over two years)
    CurrentCommitment to purchase up to 10% of outstanding common stock over two years.
    TargetInitial purchases made, demonstrating commitment.

    Why it matters

    Demonstrates alignment with shareholders and provides incremental demand for shares, potentially reducing discount to NAV.

    With this in mind, the recent announcement that BC Partners and its affiliates have committed to purchasing up to 10% of the company's outstanding common stock over the next two years, while our shares trade below 70% of NAV, reflects their conviction in the company, in our strategy, and the long-term value of the business.

    Q&A highlights

    6

    How does the company prioritize continued share buybacks versus paying down debt, given the current leverage ratio?

    Management stated that with a 1.36x leverage ratio (top end of their range), they aim to use a portion of repayments to pay down debt and reduce leverage, while also being opportunistic with new deals and repurchases.

    Repurchases. Right now we're at 1.36 leverage ratio, and so that's at the top end of our range. And so we want to be cognizant of that going forward. And as we receive repayments, we want to take a portion of that to pay down our outstanding debt to decrease our leverage and then use that towards repurchases, but then also being opportunistic with new deals.

    asked by Sean-Paul Adams · answered by Unknown Executive

    3 min read8 chapters

    Detailed Narrative

    01

    Leadership Transition and Strategic Alignment

    David Spreng introduced Mike Rovner as Co-CEO, highlighting his extensive experience spanning technology, venture capital, private credit, and growth lending over 30 years. This appointment, coupled with the expanded resources of BC Partners, is intended to bolster investment capabilities and guide Runway through its next phase. The leadership team remains committed to disciplined underwriting and active portfolio management, aiming to generate attractive long-term returns for shareholders.

    02

    Capital Allocation Strategy

    The company's capital allocation strategy is designed to maximize long-term total shareholder return by maintaining a robust investment portfolio and strong earnings capacity. This involves a multi-pronged approach: BC Partners and its affiliates have committed to purchasing up to 10% of outstanding common stock, the company plans disciplined share repurchases, and selective originations will continue. These actions aim to reduce the discount to NAV while preserving portfolio quality and earnings power.

    03

    SWK Acquisition Impact and Diversification

    The acquisition of SWK Holdings, completed on April 6, 2026, significantly enhanced portfolio diversification across industries and loan sizes. SWK contributed $0.05 accretion to net investment income, 26% growth in yielding assets, and $3.4 million in realized gains during the quarter. Runway plans to further diversify its portfolio by refinancing loans at lower balances and selectively syndicating portions of new originations to third parties.

    04

    Portfolio Valuation and Credit Monitoring

    Runway employs a rigorous valuation process, engaging nationally recognized third-party firms for independent valuation ranges without internal input. The framework prioritizes review of larger exposures and higher-risk ratings, with 82% of Category 3 or higher loans reviewed by a third party in the last two quarters. This methodology has demonstrated high accuracy, with fair value percentages relative to exit values exceeding 97.5% over the last four quarters prior to realization.

    05

    Credit Quality and Risk Ratings

    The portfolio's credit quality remains strong, with 94% of loans having a weighted average risk rating of 3 or better, and 76% rated in Category 1 or 2. The average weighted portfolio risk rating improved to 2.34 in Q2 FY26 from 2.67 in Q1 FY26. Management emphasizes that a Category 3 designation reflects proactive monitoring rather than impairment, and 54% of portfolio companies are cash flow positive, underpinning confidence in the portfolio's fundamentals.

    06

    Financial Performance Highlights

    In Q2 FY26, Runway generated total investment income of $37.0 million and net investment income of $18.2 million. NAV per share was $11.91, a 2% decrease QoQ, primarily due to $0.22 per share in SWK transaction expenses. The debt portfolio achieved a dollar-weighted average annualized yield of 14.2%, which would have been 15% excluding non-accruals. The company also reported spillover income of approximately $0.68 per share.

    07

    Realized Losses and Restructuring

    The company recognized $45.3 million in net realized losses during Q2 FY26, predominantly from the restructuring of Marley Spoon and the sale of Blueshift. The full economic impact of these situations was largely reflected as unrealized losses in the prior quarter's NAV. Management is actively engaged with the new management teams of these companies to reduce cash burn and evaluate strategic alternatives.

    08

    Liquidity and Leverage Management

    As of June 30, 2026, total available liquidity stood at $210.8 million, including $200 million in borrowing capacity from the KeyBank credit facility. The leverage ratio increased to 1.36x, and asset coverage was 1.74x. Management plans to balance debt paydown from repayments with opportunistic share repurchases and new deal originations to manage leverage effectively and maintain financial flexibility.

    AI-generated summary of the company’s earnings call. Not investment advice.